Lighting unit comprising at least a diffused light source and at least a concentrated light source

ABSTRACT

Lighting unit with a container body (10) made by means of extrusion, a series of first light sources (21; 221) and a series of second light sources (22; 222), arranged on at least one printed circuit board (20; 220a, 220b); a power supply (50,51) supplying power to the light sources (21, 22; 221, 222); diffusion optics (30) for diffusion of the light emitted by the first light sources (21; 221); and concentrating and/or directing optics (40) for concentrating and/or directing the light emitted by the second sources (22; 222).

The subject matter of the present invention is a lighting unit comprising at least a diffused light source and at least a concentrated light source.

The need to light different objects with a respective different lighting, which can be of either diffused or concentrated type, e.g. for lighting specific details, or a combination of the two lighting types, is known in the art.

Therefore, the technical problem arises of making a lighting unit able to deliver both diffused and concentrated light.

It is also required that such device should have compact dimensions, allow an easy and cost-effective manufacturing and assembling process, as well as be easily installable at any user employing normal standardized connection means.

According to the present invention, such results are achieved by a lighting unit according to the herein described subject matter.

Further details may be derived from the following description of a non-limiting exemplary embodiment of the object of the present invention, made with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show:

in FIG. 1 : an exploded perspective view of an exemplary embodiment of a lighting unit according to the present invention;

in FIG. 2 : perspective views of means for performing fastening of the unit of FIG. 1 to walls or the like;

in FIG. 3 : a front view from the front side of the lighting unit of FIG. 1 assembled and closed;

in FIG. 4 : a front view from the rear side of the lighting unit of FIG. 3 ;

in FIG. 5 : a cross-section along the line V-V of FIG. 3 ;

in FIG. 6 : an exploded perspective view of a second exemplary embodiment of a lighting unit according to the present invention;

in FIG. 7 : a front view of the lighting unit of FIG. 6 in an assembled state;

in FIG. 8 : a schematic cross-section along the line VIII-VIII of FIG. 7 ;

in FIG. 9 : an exploded perspective view of a third exemplary embodiment of a lighting unit according to the present invention; and

in FIG. 10 : a front perspective view of the lighting unit of FIG. 9 in an assembled state.

As illustrated in FIG. 1 , and hereby assuming merely for descriptive purposes and without any limiting meaning a reference triad with a respective longitudinal length-wise direction X-X; transverse width-wise direction Y-Y; and vertical height-wise direction Z-Z of the lighting unit; as well as a front part A corresponding to the light emitting part, and an opposite rear blind part P, the lighting unit according to the invention substantially comprises:

-   -   a container body 10, preferably made by means of extrusion;     -   a series of first light sources 21 and a series of second light         sources 22 supported on at least one printed circuit board 20         and preferably arranged on parallel and preferably coplanar         planes;     -   power supply means 50, 51 for supplying power to the light         sources 21 and 22;     -   diffusion optical means for diffusion of the light emitted by         the first light sources 21, comprising for example a diffuser         30;     -   concentrating and/or directing optical means 40 for         concentrating and/or directing the light emitted by the second         sources 22 supported on the printed circuit board, comprising         for example concentrating lenses.

A light source is intended as a unit formed by one or more light emitting devices, such as LEDs, arranged and configured to emit a light beam.

The first light sources 21 are arranged on a printed circuit board 20 and are aligned along a first axis parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X. The relative distance between the first light sources 21 may generally be such as to cause a substantially continuous and/or uniform emission of light through the diffusion means along the longitudinal extension of the series of first light sources. The second light sources 22 are arranged on a printed circuit board and aligned along a second axis parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X.

As an example, the second light sources 22 are formed by LEDs and are arranged in the longitudinal direction X-X at a predetermined relative distance, preferably significantly bigger than the distance between the first light sources 21, such as to allow association of a respective optical element 40 of said concentrating and/or directing optical means to each second light source. It is understood that the relative distance between adjacent second light sources may not be constant.

Preferably, the first and second light sources are arranged on the same plane, more preferably on a same printed circuit board, as will be appreciated hereinafter.

The diffusion optical means and the concentrating and/or directing optical means are configured to be mounted on the container body so as to suitably either diffuse or concentrate/direct the light beams emitted by the respective first and second light sources 21, 22.

In greater detail, a preferred embodiment of the container body 10 (FIGS. 1 and 5 ) has a cross-section formed by a first half-body 11 in the form of a “U” with arms 11 a and a base 11 b, and a second half-body 12 in the form of an “overturned L” with a long side 12 a and a short side 12 b; the long side 12 a is connected to one of the arms 11 a of the “U”; the exemplary representation of FIG. 1 shows the arms 11 a of the “U” and the arm 12 b of the “L” as parallel to the vertical direction Z-Z, the base 11 b of the “U” being parallel to the transverse direction Y-Y.

The long arm 12 a of the “L” preferably has a length L1 smaller than the length L2 of the base 11 b, so as to leave an empty interspace 13 with a length L3 between said vertical arm 12 b and the opposite vertical arm 11 a of the “U”, the interspace thus being open towards the front part A of the lighting unit. The transverse width Y-Y of the printed circuit board 20 is preferably slightly smaller than the width L2 of the base of the “U”, so as to be easily insertable within the latter in a longitudinal direction.

The first light sources 21 are arranged on the printed circuit board and aligned to a first axis parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X, so as to occupy an area with a width in the transverse sense (Y-Y) which underlies and preferably substantially corresponds to that (L3) of the interspace (13), in order to cause an emission of light substantially along the entire length of the lighting unit. The first alignment axis of the first light sources on the printed circuit board may be offset in the transverse direction Y-Y with respect to the centre line longitudinal axis of the interspace 13.

The second light sources 22 are arranged on the printed circuit board 20 aligned along a second axis parallel to the longitudinal direction X-X, and so as to occupy an area in the transverse sense Y-Y having a width substantially comprised within the width L2 of the transverse arm 12 a of the “overturned L” 12.

The interspace 13 may be closed at its front side by the diffuser 30, which causes a diffusion to the outside environment of the light emitted by the first light sources 21, said emission of light thus being substantially continuous and/or uniform along the longitudinal extension of the first light sources.

Each second light source 22 is associated with a respective concentrating and/or directing optical element 40, for example comprised of one or more lenses and/or reflectors, inserted in a respective suitable opening 14 of the container body 10; the openings 14 are in particular configured such that, once the lighting unit is assembled, each opening, as well as its respective optical element 40, are coaxial to the respective second light source, so as to suitably concentrate and/or direct the respective beam of emitted light.

The lighting unit further comprises power supply means 50, 51 designed to cause the emission by the first and/or second light sources, which may for example be LEDs, designed to emit white and/or coloured RGB light.

Furthermore, the power supply means are preferably designed to control a light intensity emitted by the first and/or second light sources, and in particular to individually control each of the second sources for selectively controlling the intensity of the light beam emitted therefrom (dimming) and/or for controlling the first light sources to determine at least an overall intensity of the diffused light emitted by the first sources through the associated diffusion optical means.

Furthermore, it is possible to provide manually accessible switches on the rear side of the container body, for individually controlling the switching on/off of respective one or more second light sources.

Once the lighting unit has been assembled, it is closed by end plugs 15 fixed by means of screws 15 a.

It is also envisaged that the lighting unit may comprise fixing means 60 for performing fixing to surfaces such as walls, parts of furniture or the like; said fixing means comprising a spring in the form of a shaped bracket designed to engage with the unit and provided with a hole for receiving a fastening screw for fastening to the surface to which it must be applied. As illustrated in FIG. 2 , the bracket-shaped spring 60 may have a hole arranged in a central or asymmetric position, designed to fix the lighting unit parallel or inclined with respect to the target surface.

As illustrated in FIG. 2 , a second embodiment of the fixing means 160 for performing fixing to a surface is envisaged, in this case comprising a bracket with one side 161 designed to be arranged parallel to the rear or bottom surface of the lighting unit to which it is fixed by magnets 161 a. A second side 162; 162 a of the bracket may either be inclined at a suitable acute/obtuse angle and provided with a hole for receiving a screw for performing fastening to the surface, thereby allowing a different orientation of the emitted light, or it may be orthogonal to the first side 161 and designed to be coupled to the other (rear or bottom) surface of the container body, to form an L-shaped fixing bracket. Preferably, the long side 161 of the “L” designed to be coupled to the bottom surface of the container body is provided with a hole for performing fastening to a target surface by means of screws.

According to preferred embodiments, it is envisaged that the lighting unit may be provided with control means for remotely adjusting the intensity, colour and/or orientation of the light emitted by each light source.

Said remote control means, which may for example be connected to the lighting unit, in particular to the power supply means 50, by means of Bluetooth technology, are known in the art are therefore not described in further detail herein.

FIG. 6 shows a second exemplary embodiment of a lighting unit according to the present invention, wherein the series of first lights 221 and the series of second lights 222 are arranged on a respective printed circuit board 220 a, 220 b. The two printed circuit board 220 a, 220 b are arranged on parallel planes, preferably coplanar, and are housed in respective different longitudinal seats 213, 211 of the container body 210.

The container body 210 may be advantageously formed by means of extrusion. The planes of the printed circuit boards and the seats 213, 211 are preferably inclined with respect to the vertical direction Z-Z and the transverse direction Y-Y.

Preferably, a housing seat 212 a for housing the printed circuit board supporting the second light sources 222 is formed in a contoured body 212 on which optical elements 40 associated with the second light sources, and optionally also middle panels for covering a space between adjacent second light sources 222 may be mounted, so that the second light sources 222 and the respective optical elements 40 may be assembled on the contoured body 212 a to form a single body, and may be inserted in an assembled state in the respective longitudinal seat 211 of the container 210.

Advantageously, the contoured body 212 may be housed in the longitudinal seat 211 of the container body so as to be rotatable therein around an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction, in particular within a certain rotation range and in two opposite rotation directions.

Therefore, it is possible to easily achieve a light orientation of the second sources 222 around the longitudinal axis, within a certain range, achieving the so-called tilt function.

The rotatable housing of the contoured body 212 (assembled with the second light sources and the respective optical element) in the longitudinal seat 211 of the container body 210 is preferably achieved by means of a form-fit coupling between the seat 211 and the contoured body 212, as will be appreciated hereinafter.

As illustrated in FIG. 8 , the longitudinal seat 211 of the housing body 212 is preferably in the form of an “open C”, having a curved rear arm 211 a and a curved front arm, connected by a flat base 211 b.

The base 211 b may be inclined with respect to the vertical direction Z-Z and the transverse direction Y-Y, and, once assembled, may in particular be parallel to the plane of the printed circuit board 220 b supporting the second light sources, in a “zero tilt”, i.e. non-rotated, position thereof.

The longitudinal seat 211 may be obtained, in particular by means of extrusion, in a container body 210 having preferably a rear side 210 a parallel to the vertical direction and a bottom side 210 b parallel to the longitudinal X-X and transverse Y-Y directions.

As illustrated, the contoured housing body 212 for housing the second light sources, which may also be advantageously obtained by means of extrusion, may in particular have an upper seat 212 a in the form of a “U” to house the printed circuit board 220 b.

The front and rear outer walls 212 b of the contoured support body 212 are shaped as curved surfaces, arranged and configured for a form-fit coupling with the inner surfaces of the curved arms 211 a of the C-shaped seat 211 of the container body 210; in particular, the C-shaped seat arms and the rear and front outer walls 212 b of the support contoured body 212 may have a corresponding curvature radius. Therefore, the support contoured body 212 may be stably housed in the seat 211 of the housing body 210 and be rotatable around a longitudinal axis, guided by the curved arms 211 b of the C-shaped seat 211.

As illustrated, a cavity may be defined between the bottom face of the support contoured body 212 and the base 211 b of the container body seat 211, the sizing of the cavity in particular allowing an adjustment of a rotation range of the contoured body 212 within the seat 211, the base 211 b itself forming the end-of-travel stop thereof.

According to a preferred embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9-10 , there is provided a plurality of contoured bodies 212, arranged in series along the longitudinal direction within the longitudinal seat 211, to house the second light series 222 within the container body 210.

One or more (and in particular at least two) of the second light sources 222 with respective optical element 240 may be housed in an upper U-shaped seat 212 a of a respective support contoured body 212. Each contoured body 212 with one or more second light sources 222 may preferably be rotatable around the longitudinal axis independently of the other contoured bodies, thus allowing the orientation of each set of one or more second light sources 222 supported on a respective contoured body 212, independently of the other second light sources 222.

Advantageously, in this embodiment, the inner cavity defined between the base of the C-shaped seat 211 b and the contoured bodies 212 may preferably house passage sleeves 251 for passage of wiring for serial connection of the second light sources 222, arranged so as not to hinder the rotational motion of the individual contoured bodies 212 for support thereof.

Furthermore, it is advantageously possible to longitudinally translate a contoured body 212 with respect to the others, achieving a further degree of freedom in the positioning of the respective second light sources. However, the contoured bodies 212 are preferably fixed in the longitudinal direction to keep a constant pitch between second light sources, which is particularly desirable in order to achieve an improved aesthetic appearance.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 6-10 , the housing seat 213 for housing the first light sources may be closed by a respective diffuser 230 of the optical diffusion means, similarly to what is shown in relation to the interspace of the first embodiment of the invention.

As illustrated, such seat 213 is preferably in the form of a “U”, with a base having a greater extent than the arms of the “U” and a smaller extent than the base 211 b of the longitudinal housing seat 211 for housing the second light sources, from which it may be separated by a longitudinal partition 213 projecting outwardly in a direction substantially orthogonal to the surfaces of the base 211 b of the seats 211, 213 and to the planes of the printed circuit boards.

The power supply means may be separated for the first and second light sources 221, 222, in case they are supported on separate printed circuit boards 220 a, 220 b.

The device according to the invention, incorporating in a single container body two different light sources and means for diffusing and/or concentrating the light emitted therefrom, is therefore extremely compact; it may be implemented according to variable lengths by predetermining the extrusion conditions of the container body and the diffuser to be applied thereto, as well as the printed circuit board with respective light sources.

In addition to the foregoing, the relative distance between the second light sources 22 may be easily varied, said distance having a constant or variable pitch as required and/or preferred for determining the specific desired concentration with respect to the object to be lit.

The specific linear structure with pieces made by means of extrusion also allows for an easy and cost-effective manufacturing, as well as a quick assembly process, helping to contain production costs and sale price. While having been described in the context of some embodiments and some preferred exemplary implementations of the invention, the scope of the present patent is intended to be solely determined by the following claims. 

1. Lighting unit characterized in that it comprises: a container body (10), preferably made by means of extrusion; a series of first light sources (21; 221) and a series of second light sources (22; 222) arranged on at least one printed circuit board (20; 220 a, 220 b); power supply means (50, 51) for supplying power to the light sources (21, 22; 221, 222); diffusion optical means (30) for diffusion of the light emitted by the first light sources (21; 221); concentrating and/or directing optical means (40) for concentrating and/or directing the light emitted by the second sources (22; 222).
 2. Lighting unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the series of first light sources and the series of second light sources are arranged on substantially parallel planes and preferably on a same plane; and/or in that the first and second light sources are supported on a same printed circuit board.
 3. Lighting unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the first light sources (21; 221) are arranged aligned along a first axis parallel to the longitudinal direction (X-X), and a relative distance between the first light sources (21; 221) is such as to cause an emission of light through the diffusion means which is substantially continuous and/or uniform along the longitudinal extension of the series of first light sources.
 4. Lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the second light sources (22) are arranged substantially aligned along a second axis parallel to the longitudinal direction (X-X), a respective optical element (40) of said concentrating and/or directing optical means being associated with each second light source.
 5. Lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein said container body (10) has a cross-section comprising a first half-body (11) in the form of a “U” with arms (11 a) and base (11 b) and a second half-body (12) in the form of an “overturned L” with a long side (12 a) and a short side (12 b); the long side (12 a) being connected to one of the arms (11 a) of the “U”.
 6. Lighting unit according to claim 5, wherein the long side (12 a) of the “L” has a length (L1) smaller than the length (L2) of the base (11 b) so as to leave an empty interspace (13) between said vertical arm (12 b) and the opposite vertical arm (11 a) of the “U”, the empty interspace thus being open towards the front part (A) of the lighting unit.
 7. Lighting unit according to claim 6, characterized in that the first light sources (21) are aligned along an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction (X-X) and so as to occupy an area with a width in the transverse sense (Y-Y) which underlies and preferably substantially corresponds to that (L3) of the interspace (13), and in that the interspace (13) is closed on its front side by said diffusion means (30), so as to cause a first emission of diffused light which is substantially continuous and/or uniform along the length of the lighting unit.
 8. Lighting unit according to claim 1, wherein the first light sources (221) are arranged on at least one first printed circuit board (220 a) and the second light sources (222) are arranged on at least one second printed circuit board (220 b), respectively, the at least one first printed circuit board (220 a) and the at least one second printed circuit board being respectively housed in a first and second longitudinal seat (213, 211) of the container body (210).
 9. Lighting unit according claim 8, wherein the at least one first and the at least one second printed circuit boards (220 a, 220 b) are arranged on parallel planes, preferably coplanar, and wherein the planes of the printed circuit boards and of the longitudinal seats (213, 211) are preferably inclined relative to the vertical direction (Z-Z) and the transverse direction (Y-Y).
 10. Lighting unit according to claim 8, comprising one or more contoured bodies (212 a), each comprising an upper housing seat (212 a) for housing a respective printed second circuit board supporting one or more second light sources (222), wherein each contoured body (212) is housed in the second longitudinal seat (211) of the container body.
 11. Lighting unit according to claim 10, wherein the optical elements (40) associated with the second light sources, and optionally also middle panels for covering a space between adjacent second light sources (222), are mountable on each contoured body, so that the second light sources (222) and the respective optical elements (240) can be assembled on the contoured body (212 a) to form a single body designed to be inserted in a pre-assembled state in the second longitudinal seat (211) of the container body (210).
 12. Lighting unit according to claim 10, wherein one or more contoured bodies (212) is/are housed in the second longitudinal seat (211) of the container body so as to be rotatable within the same around an axis parallel to the longitudinal direction (X-X), in particular within a certain rotation range and in two opposite rotation directions.
 13. Lighting unit according to claim 12, wherein one or more contoured bodies (212) is/are housed in the second longitudinal seat (211) of the container body (210) by means of a form-fit coupling between the longitudinal seat (211) and the contoured body (212), such that the contoured body (212) is stably housed in the longitudinal seat (211) and is rotationally guided around the longitudinal axis.
 14. Lighting unit according to claim 8, wherein the second longitudinal seat (211) of the container body (212) is in the form of an “open C”, with a curved rear arm (211 a) and a curved front arm, connected by a base (211 b).
 15. Lighting unit according to claim 14, wherein the base (211 b) of the second longitudinal seat is inclined with respect to the vertical direction (Z-Z) and the transverse direction (Y-Y), and, once assembled, is in particular parallel to the plane of one or more second printed circuit boards (220 b) supporting the second light sources, in a non-rotated position thereof.
 16. Lighting unit according to claim 8, wherein the container body (210) has a rear side (210 a) parallel to the vertical direction and a bottom side (210 b) parallel to the longitudinal (X-X) and transverse (Y-Y) directions.
 17. Lighting unit according to claim 10, wherein each contoured body (212) for housing the second light sources is obtained by means of extrusion, and/or has an upper seat (212 a) in the form of a “U” for housing the respective second printed circuit board (220 b).
 18. Lighting unit according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of contoured bodies (212) is arranged in series along the longitudinal direction within the second longitudinal seat (211), each supporting one or more, and in particular at least two second light sources (222) with a respective optical element (240).
 19. Lighting unit according to claim 18, wherein each contoured body (212) with one or more second light source (222) is rotatable around the longitudinal axis independently of the other contoured bodies (212), and/or is translatable in the longitudinal sense independently of the other contoured bodies (212).
 20. Lighting unit according to claim 12, wherein each contoured housing body (212) for the second light sources has front and rear outer walls (212 b) shaped as curved surfaces, arranged and configured for a form-fit coupling with inner surfaces of curved arms (211 a) of a second longitudinal C-shaped seat of the container body (210); wherein preferably the C-shaped seat arms and the rear and front outer walls 212 b of the support contoured body (212) have a corresponding curvature radius.
 21. Lighting unit according to claim 10, wherein a cavity is defined between a bottom face of a contoured body (212) and the base (211 b) of the second seat (211) of the container body (210).
 22. Lighting unit according to claim 8, wherein the first longitudinal housing seat (213) for housing the first light sources is in form of a “U” and is closed by a diffuser (230) of the optical diffusion means; wherein the first longitudinal seat (213) is separated from the second longitudinal seat (211) of the container body (210) by a longitudinal partition (213 a) projecting outwardly substantially in a direction orthogonal to the printed circuit boards planes.
 23. Lighting unit according to claim 1, characterized in that a relative distance between second light sources adjacent in the longitudinal direction (X-X) is greater than a relative distance between adjacent first light sources (21).
 24. Lighting unit according to claim 1 further comprising power supply means (50, 51) designed to cause the emission by the first and/or second light sources of white and/or coloured RGB light, the power supply means being preferably designed to control a light intensity and/or a colour of the light emitted by the first and/or second light sources, in particular to control individually the intensity and/or colour of the light beam emitted by each of the second light sources.
 25. Lighting unit according to claim 4, characterized in that each second light source (22) is associated with a corresponding concentrating and/or directing optical element (40), which is preferably inserted inside a suitable opening (14) of the container body (1) and is arranged so as to be coaxial with the respective light source, causing the emission of a respective beam of light concentrated and/or directed by each second light source.
 26. Lighting unit according to claim 1, further comprising fixing means (60, 160) for fixing to surfaces such as walls, parts of furniture or the like; said fixing means preferably comprising a spring (60) in the form of a shaped bracket designed to engage with the lighting unit and provided with a hole for receiving fastening means for fastening to the surface to which it must be applied and/or a bracket (160) with a first side (161) which is designed to be arranged parallel to the rear or bottom surface of the lighting unit to which it is preferably fixed by magnetic means (161 a), and a second side (162; 162 a), said second side being preferably: inclined at an acute/obtuse angle, thus allowing a different orientation of the emitted light; or orthogonal to the first side (161) and designed to be coupled with the other bottom or rear surface of the container body.
 27. Lighting unit according to claim 26, wherein the first or second side of the bracket (160) is provided with a hole (162 a) for receiving fastening means for fastening to the target surface.
 28. Lighting unit according to claim 1, further comprising control means for remotely adjusting the intensity, colour and/or direction of the light emitted by each light source, said remote control means being preferably connected to the lighting unit by means of Bluetooth technology. 